Whitfield Connection

03/30/2025

From North Gordon County.

UPDATE (2:55 P.M. SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2025) - GCSO RELEASES ADDITIONAL INFO ON BODY FOUND ON I-75 THIS MORNING: At approximately 8:27 a.m. this morning, a truck driver reported finding a body near an empty mini-van on Interstate 75 Northbound 320 entrance ramp. Deputy sheriffs, along with Fire-Rescue personnel, arrived within minutes.

Deputies summoned the Coroner and State Troopers to the scene as well. The victim, who was determined to not be a local resident, exhibited evidence of having been run over by an automobile. A minivan, later confirmed by a family member to have been in the victim’s possession, was found a short distance away, in gear and with the motor still running, lodged against the guardrail.

As of this time, investigating officers have found no evidence of foul play or that any other person was involved.

The investigation is being led by the Georgia State Patrol, and Sheriff’s detectives are assisting Troopers and the Coroner with this case.

ORIGINAL-GORDON COUNTY CORONERS OFFICE: BODY DISCOVERED NEAR I-75 NB ENTRANCE RAMP; INVESTIGATION CONTINUES. On Sunday morning, March 30, 2025 at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Gordon County Coroners Office responded to a call where the body of a 25-year-old female had been discovered.

The death occurred near the Northbound entrance ramp of I-75 at Exit 320.

Initial investigations have begun and the family is being notified. The decedent is not local. Pending family notification, information will be updated.

Investigations continue as Gordon County Sheriffs Office and Georgia State Patrol coordinate with The Gordon County Coroners Office.

02/05/2025

❗️FROM GORDON COUNTY - SHERIFF INVESTIGATING HOMICIDE; MAN SOUGHT IN CONNECTION: At about 7:30 p.m. last night, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, deputy sheriffs were dispatched to a private residence on James Street near Resaca in response to a report of a disturbance in which one man had been shot. Upon arrival, deputies found the home in flames. Gordon County Fire Rescue personnel fought the fire for several hours. A body was subsequently discovered inside the home, which burned to the ground.

Deputies are now searching for Christopher Lee Dixon, age 46, height 6’00”, 240 lbs. brown hair, brown eyes, in connection to this case. Warrants have been issued for Dixon’s arrest. He is considered armed, dangerous, and a flight risk.

Anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of Christopher Lee Dixon should call 911. Dixon should not be approached. The investigation is continuing in conjunction with Gordon County Fire Rescue, the State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the County Coroner.

01/29/2025

From Calhoun Fire Department

UPDATE - STATE FIRE MARSHAL JOINS INVESTIGATION INTO SUNDAY FIRE AT APACHE: In conjunction with the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Calhoun Fire Department is investigating a fire at 501 Oak St in Calhoun, Apache Mills. This fire occurred on Sunday, Jan. 26 2025, at 4:17 p.m. Calhoun Fire Department asks that anyone who has knowledge or information on this fire please contact Investigator Nathan Saylors at 706-263-5293 or you can contact the Georgia Arson Control Hotline anonymously at 1-800-282-5804 or www.georgiaarsoncontrol.org.

REWARD up to $10,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) responsible for arson and/or fraud Georgia Arson Control Georgia Arson Control Report Tips: 1-800-282-5804 www.georgiaarsoncontrol.org

RECOMPENSA hasta de $10,000.00 For infomacion que resulte en el arresto y la condena de las personas responsables de fraude o incendios intencionales! Georgia Arson Control llame gratis 1-800-282-5804 www.georgiaarsoncontrol.org

01/14/2025

WCSO APPREHENDS MURDER SUSPECT: The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office was able to quickly arrest a murder suspect early Tuesday morning just four hours after a stabbing on Richardson Road that claimed the life of a Whitfield County woman. Deputies responded to the scene late Monday night and found the woman with a stab wound. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect, Brian Moree, ran from the scene Monday night on foot before deputies arrived but he was captured early this morning on Polly Road thanks to a unified effort of several law enforcement and public safety agencies. The WCSO worked closely with the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit, Department of Natural Resources, Whitfield County Fire Department, Hamilton EMS and the Whitfield County Coroner’s Office to ensure a swift resolution.

“Teamwork is about more than just working together—it’s about bringing all our strengths and resources to bear in the pursuit of justice,” said Sheriff Darren Pierce. “It takes a collective effort to respond to a tragedy like this. In just a few hours, we identified the offender, secured arrest warrants, and tracked him down in the woods to make the arrest. This shows what’s possible when we stand together for our community.”

The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office extends its thanks to all partner agencies for their support and dedication in bringing a suspect to justice so quickly.

01/10/2025

Residents in a neighborhood on Pine Oaks Drive in Tunnel Hill are being evacuated as a precaution following a truck accident involving propane tanks. The Whitfield County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Patrol are coordinating the evacuation efforts.

The crash resulted in propane leaks from the tanks, and residents will be permitted to return once the area is deemed safe.

The Whitfield County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Patrol are actively working at the scene and assisting with evacuations. Please avoid the area to ensure the safety of all involved.

01/08/2025

UPDATE: VICTIMS IDENTIFIED. Whitfield County authorities have released the names of the victims from the Wednesday fire where firefighters were dispatched at 3:30am to Tree Top Lane in Cohutta, Ga.

The victims of the fire were identified as:

Brenda Sandifer (74)
Brittany Sandifer (26)
Joshua Sandifer (5)
Jacob Sandifer, Jr. (4)
Legend Sandifer (2)
They were all members of the same family.

The incident still remains under investigation, but early indications are that an electrical malfunction caused the fire.

FATAL FIRE UNDER INVESTIGATION: The Whitfield County Fire Department is investigating a house fire that claimed the lives of five people early Wednesday morning. The fire destroyed a residential property on Tree Top Lane in the City of Cohutta.

The call was received at 3:30am and a total of 9 fire trucks and two battalion chiefs responded to the scene.

The fire is currently under investigation, with authorities actively working to determine its cause and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“On behalf of the Whitfield County Fire Department, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family who has experienced this unimaginable loss,” said Whitfield County Fire Chief Paul Patterson. “We are fully committed to supporting the investigation into the cause of this fire.”

The identifies of the victims are not being released at this time pending the notifications of next of kin.

Further updates on this incident will be provided as it becomes available. This is a joint investigation between Whitfield County Fire Department, Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshall.

12/13/2024

Missing Juvenile - Calhoun

UPDATE - 6:52 P.M.: Missing/Runaway has been LOCATED SAFE!!! Thank you all for your shares!

ORIGINAL-MISSING/RUNAWAY JUVENILE: GCSO needs the public’s help in locating Jenson Paul Parker, age 10, white/male, 5’05”, 112 lbs, last seen wearing a red shirt and black pants. He was reported as having run away from his parent at a convenience store near the intersection of State Route 156 (Red Bud Road) and Hunt’s Gin Road a short time ago this evening. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts is urged to call 911.

12/09/2024

🏆 CONGRATULATIONS TO DALTON STATE COLLEGE SOCCER…the 2024 NAIA National Tournament Champions.

12/06/2024

From Calhoun

UPDATE (DECEMBER 8, 2024): The City of Calhoun Police Department has secured warrants for the proprietor of Curing Massage Parlor. Warrants have been issued for Siqi Li, 54, who is charged with Keeping a Place of Prostitution and two counts of Massage Without a License.

All other individuals located at the business are being treated as victims in this case. The CPD remains committed to ensuring their well-being and connecting them with any necessary resources.

ORIGINAL - CPD, GBI EXECUTE SEARCH WARRANT IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION: After several months of diligent investigation, the The City of Calhoun Police Department, in partnership with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) Human Exploitation and Trafficking (H.E.A.T.) Unit, executed a search warrant on a local business suspected of involvement in human trafficking activities.

The operation took place on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Curing Massage, located at 514 South Wall Street in Calhoun. Substantial evidence obtained during the investigation led to this action. This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of the Calhoun Police Department, the GBI, and H.E.A.T. to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals in our community.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that Calhoun remains a safe place for everyone. This investigation highlights the importance of collaboration between local law enforcement and state agencies to address such serious crimes,” said Chief T. Pyle.

12/03/2024

❗️TRAFFIC ALERT: Accident on I-75 South around the rest area in Resaca. ALL LANES INTO REST AREA CLOSED.

10/17/2024

🩷🩷🩷

🩷FINDING STRENGTH IN THE FIGHT: ERIKA GONZALEZ’S STORY OF CANCER AND HOPE. Erika Gonzalez hesitated when her healthcare team said she’d need chemotherapy and radiation to beat her breast cancer diagnosis.

“I have to think about it,” she recalls saying.

She was only 28 years old, in the middle of a dental assistant program and facing a long and difficult road to recovery. But there were other worries, too.

“It was a big decision because I didn’t want to lose my hair,” said Gonzalez, now 30 years old and in remission after receiving treatment at Peeples Cancer Institute (PCI) at Hamilton Medical Center, part of Vitruvian Health. “But I guess I quickly came to my senses and decided this is what I have to do.”

In the United States, the average age of diagnosis is 62, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. But younger women — and men — can get cancer, too. Those younger than 45 make up 9 percent of new cases.

Gonzalez has had it twice. She was 26 at the first diagnosis and had just recovered from COVID-19 when she noticed drainage that led her to seek medical attention. Coincidentally, she was diagnosed in October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. After learning she had a type of breast cancer that affects the cells of the milk ducts, Gonzalez had a mastectomy in late 2020.

But two years later, she had a cancer recurrence in the same breast, this time HER-2 positive with a type of protein that encourages cancer cells to grow quickly. Her care team quickly created a plan for her to undergo general chemotherapy, targeted chemotherapy and radiation.

READ MORE: https://www.gordongazettega.com/post/finding-strength-in-the-fight-erika-gonzalez-s-story-of-cancer-and-hope

10/01/2024

09/30/2024

REPORT: CINCINNATI REDS LEGEND PETE ROSE DIES AT 83: Longtime MLB star Pete Rose died on Monday afternoon, his agent confirmed to various news outlets. He was 83.

Rose, a former league MVP, spent 24 years in Major League Baseball. He got his start with the Cincinnati Reds in 1963, and he won three World Series titles and earned 17 All-Star nods before his final season ended in 1986. Rose, who spent brief stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos, returned to Cincinnati in 1984 to end his playing career.

READ MORE: https://sports.yahoo.com/report-mlb-hit-king-pete-rose-dies-at-83-231616652.html

09/23/2024

This Saturday in Resaca!

CIVIL WAR RELIC ID DAY TO BE HELD THIS SATURDAY, SEPT. 28: The Friends of the Resaca Battlefield will host the second free Civil War Relic Identification Day rain or shine at the pavilion at the Resaca Battlefield Historic Site adjacent to I-75 and GA Hwy. 136 West this Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. - 12 noon.

Several local artifact historians and collectors will be there with displays and research materials to assist in identifying and valuing relics that you have found or collected around the battlefield around Resaca over the years.

The group will also provide you with information on how to preserve these relics, inspect any recovered cannon balls and other types of projectiles and assist them in the related safety measures needed to enjoy them.

So dust off you artifacts and bring them to the park this Saturday and learn a little more about what you have. If you are wanting to sell your artifacts we may also be of assistance.

The Friends of the Resaca Battlefield has been the driving force in preserving nearly 1,100 acres of historic sections of battlefield in Gordon County since 1997.

Information on how to join and be a part in identifying, protecting, preservation, or becoming a volunteer with the Friends of Resaca Battlefield our members will be happy to talk to you. We will have membership applications on hand at the event or you may visit www.resacabattlefield.org

09/11/2024

Coming to Calhoun, Ga on Saturday, Oct. 12th!

🎃 MEET & GREET WITH JASON VOORHEES AT ALL STAR HALLOWEEN ON OCT. 12TH: Join All Star Halloween on Saturday, October 12th for an exclusive Meet & Greet with James Stokes, the man behind the mask of Jason Voorhees!

Stokes credits include The Silent Natural, the international action film Adrenaline, and TV shows such as Snapped, Mark of a Killer and Stranger Things. He has recently taken on the role of Jason Voorhees in Voorhees.

🕛 12 p.m. -2 p.m.: Autograph session – $20
📸 2:30 p.m.: Photo ops in full costume - $40

Don’t miss your chance to capture the ultimate Halloween memory with the iconic slasher himself!

*Tickets can be purchased the day of the event in-store, card and cash are accepted.

All Star Halloween is located at 976 Rome Rd SW in Calhoun.

09/05/2024

Erin Brockovich to attend local Town Hall meetings.

ERIN BROCKOVICH TO BE AT PFAS GEORGIA TOWN HALL MEETING IN CALHOUN CONCERNING PFAS ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 21: The public is invited to a Town Hall Meeting hosted by PFAS Georgia, featuring Erin Brockovich, on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 at The Spot 365 beginning at 10 a.m. The Spot 365 is located at 365 S Industrial Blvd in Calhoun.

Brockovich is a consumer advocate and environmental activist who was instrumental in building a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) involving groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California for attorney Ed Masry in 1993. Their successful lawsuit was the subject of the Oscar-winning film, Erin Brockovich (2000), starring Julia Roberts as Brockovich and Albert Finney as Masry.

PFAS Georgia formed when Georgia attorney Ben Finley learned of the widespread use and discharge by the carpet industry of the family of PFAS chemicals in and around Northwest Georgia, he knew he needed to act. In short order, Ben pulled together a comprehensive team to help Georgia residents get justice for this contamination. The team includes a set of experienced litigators, along with Consumer and Environmental Advocate Erin Brockovich and water expert Bob Bowcock.

On Saturday, Sept. 21st, you are invited to come learn how Northwest Georgia has become contaminated with toxic PFAS chemicals and what you can do about it. You’ll hear from PFAS Georgia's lawyers, their water expert Bob Bowcock and from environmental advocate Erin Brockovich. In addition to the Calhoun Town Hall, there will be a Town Hall held in Chatsworth on Friday, Sept. 20th. For more information on PFAS Georgia or the Town Halls, visit www.pfasgeorgia.com

If you can't attend the meeting, it is set to be live streamed on PFAS Georgia's social media pages; you can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561338124124

In addition, PFAS Georgia has opened an office in Dalton, which is expected to be open the next several years according to officials with the organization. The office is located at 517 Benjamin Way #406, Dalton, GA 30721. The contact number for the office is 762-231-0094.

As the Gazette has previously reported, the City of Calhoun has been sued in both Superior Court and in Federal Court this year due to alleged PFAS contamination in the water supply through the dumping of sludge on various properties throughout Gordon County. You can read more about that on the Gazette's FREE CONTENT page, Calhoun Water, at https://www.gordongazettega.com/calhoun-water

08/28/2024

UPDATE (FRIDAY, AUGUST. 30, 2024) - GBI, MURRAY COUNTY SO MAKE ADDITIONAL ARRESTS IN SUNDAY'S DEADLY SHOOTING: According to a release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the GBI and the Murray County Sheriff’s office have made three additional arrests in connection with Sunday's deadly shooting in Murray County.

The GBI and Murray County Sheriff's Office have arrested and charged TyKel Keshawn Hutchinson, age 19, pictured left, of Rome, and a 16-year-old from Rome, with Aggravated Assault and Felony Murder for the shooting death of Jeffery Tyler Ray, age 18, of Rydal, that occurred Sunday, August 25, 2024, in Murray County. The GBI also arrested and charged Keano Nestor, age 17, of Rome, with Tampering with Evidence.

As the Gordon Gazette reported on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, the GBI and the Murray County Sheriff’s office arrested and charged Anthony Wilkinson, age 25, pictured right, of Calhoun, with Aggravated Assault and Felony Murder for the shooting death of Ray.

On August 25, 2024, the GBI was requested by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office in reference to a shooting that occurred at an outdoor party at a home off Sexton Road in Resaca, Murray County, GA. Murray County Deputies responded to the shooting, and discovered that Ray had been shot. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. Another victim was shot in the face and was treated for his injuries.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Calhoun at 706-624-1424. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

ORIGINAL-GBI ARRESTS CALHOUN MAN IN DEADLY MURRAY COUNTY (RESACA) SHOOTING: The GBI has arrested a Calhoun man in connection to a deadly shooting in Murray County that the Gazette originally reported on Sunday.

According to a statement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the GBI and the Murray County Sheriff’s office arrested and charged Anthony Wilkinson, pictured, age 25, of Calhoun, with Aggravated Assault and Felony Murder on Sunday, August 25, 2024, for the shooting death of Jeffery Tyler Ray, age 18, of Rydal, GA.

On August 25, 2024, the GBI was requested by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office in reference to a shooting that occurred at an outdoor party at a home off Sexton Road in Resaca, Murray County, GA. Murray County Deputies responded to the shooting, and discovered that Ray had been shot. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. Another victim was shot in the face and was treated for his injuries.

Ray’s body will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office where an autopsy will be performed.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Calhoun at 706-624-1424. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

08/25/2024

WCSO, GBI INVESTIGATING SHOOTING, FOUR DEAD IN DALTON: On Saturday, August 24, 2024, at approximately 11:14 p.m., the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to Pleasant Grove Park, off Hwy 71, in reference to shots fired. Upon the Deputies arrival on scene, four deceased Hispanic males were found.

The Sheriff's Office is currently looking for a SUV type vehicle and a dark brown color hatchback vehicle. The vehicles are likely to have sustained gun shots.

The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released as it becomes available Anyone with information it requested to contact the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office or the GBI.

Sheriff's Office Tip Line: 706-278-1233 GBI Tip Line: 800-597-8477

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is assisting in the investigation.